Treating veterans will cost at least $5 billion by 2020, CBO says

November 2011, Vol 42, No. 10

Print version: page 11

Disability and health care for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars — including treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury — will cost the United States billions of dollars for decades to come, according to data from the Congressional Budget Office. The office ran two scenarios: Scenario 1 reflects a quick withdrawal of forces to 30,000 active-duty personnel by 2013, and Scenario 2 reflects a more gradual withdrawal to 60,000 personnel by 2015. Scenario 2 resulted in costs on par with the interest America pays on its national debt.